Subsequent to the publication of the above article, a concerned reader drew to our attention that the flow cytometric plots shown in Fig. 2 had previously appeared in another article published in the journal Oncology Reports [Huang G, Tang B, Tang K, Dong X, Deng J, Liao L, Liao Z, Yang H and He S: Isoquercitrin inhibits the progression of liver cancer in vivo and in vitro via the MAPK signalling pathway. Oncol Rep 31: 2377‑2384, 2014], suggesting that data purportedly showing results obtained under different experimental conditions had been derived from the same original source. Given the errors that were identified in the compilation of Fig. 2 in this article, and the fact that all the data in this figure had been re‑used from a previously published source, the Editor of Oncology Reports has decided that this article should be retracted from the publication owing to a lack of overall confidence in the presented data. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive a satisfactory reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience that might result from the retraction of this article. [Oncology Reports 33: 840‑848, 2015; DOI: 10.3892/or.2014.3626].

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES:To evaluate image quality, radiation dose and its diagnostic performance in clinical utility of CT colonography (CTC) applying spectral filtration and advanced modeled iterative reconstruction (ADMIRE) techniques in third-generation dual-source CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS:A total of 125 patients for screening or diagnostic purposes underwent CTC at 120kVp standard dose (120kVp-STD) with filtered-back projection reconstruction (FBP) in supine position, then at a tin-filtered 150 kVp low dose (Sn150kVp-LD) and a tin-filtered 100 kVp ultra-low dose (Sn100kVp-ULD) with ADMIRE reconstruction in prone position. Radiation metrics were recorded. Objective and subjective image qualities were compared, and the diagnostic performance was assessed for both colonic and extracolonic findings using CTC reporting and data system (C-RADS). RESULTS:The effective dose was significantly lower for Sn150kVp-LD and Sn100kVp-ULD than 120kVp-STD protocol, resulting in 22.5% and 87.5% reductions (1.55±0.30 and 0.25±0.07 mSv vs. 2.00±0.52 mSv; both p<0.01), respectively. Image noise and signal-to-noise ratio were improved significantly for Sn150kVp-LD with ADMIRE compared with 120kVp-STD, both of which had similar excellent 2D and 3D subjective image quality with equivalent diagnostic performance. Sn100kVp-ULD with ADMIRE had decreased subjective image quality and significant different C-RADS extracolonic-score (E-score) compared with 120kVp-STD, however, C-RADS colonic-score (C-score) of that showed no significantly difference. CONCLUSION:Sn150kVp and Sn100kVp with ADMIRE reconstruction provide an alternative low dose CTC strategy and could be feasible in clinical screening or diagnostic scenarios.

The mechanisms behind water flow on contaminant removal by a submerged macrophyte-biofilm complex in surface flow wetlands remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, water flow (2.02 similar to 2.12 or 4.06 similar to 4.5 L s(-1); hydraulic retention time, 7d) significantly enhanced NH4+-N and COD but inhibited TN and TP removal compared to the static ones. No more than 30% of TN and TP were assimilated by V. natans-biofilm complex in wetland system. Water flow remarkably affected alpha-diversity of microbial community in epiphytic biofilm. As revealed by beta-diversity analysis, turnover played greater contribution to the total dissimilarity than nestedness. Network analyses revealed that the microbial interactions including predation, symbiosis and competition in epiphytic biofilms were much more intensive in the Sept.Oct. than the Nov.-Dec group. Redundancy and Mantel correlation analyses revealed that temperature played a key role in determining microbial community structure, especially for bacteria.

Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome (KMS) is associated with profound thrombocytopenia and consumptive coagulopathy caused by vascular tumors. In this report, we described an adult patient with KMS who received chemotherapy including vindesine (VDS), and briefly reviewed the literature on KMS treatment. This female patient was found to be presented with multiple subcutaneous masses at birth. These soft masses increased in size and numbers every year and led to KMS finally, including subarachnoid hemorrhage and coagulopathy. After being treated with combination of glucocorticoid, thalidomide and propranolol, her symptoms did not improve. We started VDS treatment on a 4 mg weekly basis for the first week, and then reduced to 2 mg weekly. After 4 weeks treatment, the platelets count and fibrinogen level both increased and no more newly emerged abnormal lesions was found. Based on these existing literatures, the current major treatments of KMS include physical therapy, traditional chemotherapy and hemostatic therapy. The treatment choice depends on the severity of KMS. For those patients who got widely distributed hemangiomas, and involving deep muscles and many important organs, will lose the opportunity of surgery excision or embolization treatment. The VDS based combination treatment approach may make the disease reached a stable state.

Trans-differentiation, or activation, of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a hallmark event in liver fibrosis although the underlying mechanism is not fully appreciated. Serum response factor (SRF) is a pleiotropic sequence-specific transcription factor with a ubiquitous expression pattern. In the present study, we investigated the effect of HSC-specific ablation of SRF on liver fibrosis in vivo and the underlying mechanism. We report that SRF bound to the promoter regions of pro-fibrogenic genes, including collagen type I ( Col1a1/Col1a2 ) and alpha smooth muscle actin ( Acta2 ), with greater affinity in activated HSCs compared to quiescent HSCs. Ablation of SRF in HSCs in vitro downregulated the expression of fibrogenic genes by dampening the accumulation of active histone marks. SRF also interacted with MRTF-A, a well-documented co-factor involved in liver fibrosis, on the pro-fibrogenic gene promoters during HSC activation. In addition, SRF directly regulated MRTF-A transcription in activated HSCs. More importantly, HSC conditional SRF knockout (CKO) mice developed a less robust pro-fibrogenic response in the liver in response to CCl 4 injection and BDL compared to wild-type littermates. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that SRF may play an essential role in HSC activation and liver fibrosis. Key messages • SRF deficiency decelerates activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro. • SRF epigenetically activates pro-fibrogenic transcription to promote HSC maturation. • SRF interacts with MRTF-A and contributes to MRTF-A transcription. • Conditional SRF deletion in HSCs attenuates BDL-induced liver fibrosis in mice. • Conditional SRF ablation in HSCs attenuates CCl 4 -induced liver fibrosis in mice.

Accidental events may cause a chain of local damages of offshore platforms and eventually result in an overall collapse of platform structures, which exposes the structural vulnerability in resisting non-proportional failure. In addition, due to the redundancy of structure and the uncertainty of failure response, there may exist a series of different potential failure paths for offshore platforms. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel methodology for structural robustness assessment considering multi-failure paths to quantify the robustness of offshore platforms. By using the generalized bearing-capacity-ratio method combined with the incremental-loading method, all possible failure paths could be sought out and the most possible failure sequence be identified. Based on failure paths analysis, three novel robustness indices are established from different perspectives, respectively: (1) path dependent & state-dependent robustness index R-I, (2) overall dynamic robustness index R-P, (3) and comprehensive robustness index R-W for structural pre-evaluation. Also, by introducing the maintenance reinforcement into the structural robustness simulation, the effects of the whole reinforcement and the critical path reinforcement on structural robustness are studied. Robustness analysis results show that the differences of robustness of different failure paths are significant, although the accidental events occur in small probability path, its impact on the structural robustness is serious so it should be paid more attention. Besides, strengthening the critical path could significantly improve the structural robustness and achieve the goal of robustness control.

We evaluate the reliability and feasibility of weight-adapted ultra-low-dose pancreatic perfusion CT. A total of 100 (47 men, 53 women) patients were enrolled prospectively and were assigned to five groups (A, B, C, D, and E) with different combination of tube voltage and tube current according to their body weight. Radiation dose parameters including volume CT dose index (CTDI) and dose-length product (DLP) were recorded. Image quality was evaluated both subjectively and objectively (noise, signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio). Perfusion parameters including blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), and permeability (PMB) were measured. The dose, image quality measurements, and perfusion parameters were compared between the five groups using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Radiation dose reached 8.7 mSv in patients under 50 kg and was 18.9 mSv in patients above 80 kg. The mean subjective image quality score was above 4.45 on a 5-point scale with good agreement between two radiologists. Groups A–D had equivalent performance on objective image quality (P > 0.05), while Group E performed even better (P < 0.05). No significant differences emerged in comparison with perfusion parameters (BF, BV, PMB) of normal pancreas parenchyma between the five groups. Weight-adapted ultra-low-dose pancreatic perfusion CT can effectively reduce radiation dose without prejudice to image quality, and the perfusion parameters of normal parenchyma are accurate and reliable.

A sub-10 mu m InGaAs (IGA) focal plane array (FPA), with cut-off wavelength of 2.6 mu m has been developed. The pixel pitch is reduced significantly comparing with that of reported extended wavelength IGA FPAs. To verify the feasibility of technology, the performance of sub-10 mu m IGA FPA was tested and compared with 30 mu m pixel pitch IGA FPA, which was fabricated from the same epitaxial material. The sub-10 mu m IGA FPA exhibits high performances in terms of dark current (0.45 nA @ V-R = 10 mV) and R(0)A (14.7 Omega . cm(2)) at room temperature. Its quantum efficiency can reach 63%. The comparable performances to 30 mu m pixel pitch IGA FPA illustrate that the sub-10 mu m IGA FPA fulfils the needs of large formats (>1 K x 1 K) and high densities in extended wavelength IGA detectors.

A new series of cinnamide derivatives 6a–l were synthesized by the reaction of acyl chlorides with various substituted benzylpiperazines. The structures were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS. The potential neuroprotective activities of cinnamide analogs were evaluated in differentiated rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12 cells) and in mice subjected to acute cerebral ischemia. Among the series, 6a, 6b, and 6c, featuring a 1,3-benzodioxole moiety, showed potent neuroprotection both in vivo and in vitro. The three compounds were selected and further studied to determine their mechanism of action. MTT assay, Hoechst 33342/PI double staining, and high content screening (HCS) revealed that pretreatment of the cells with 6a, 6b, and 6c has significantly decreased the extent of cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. The results of western blot analysis demonstrated these compounds suppressed apoptosis of glutamate-induced PC12 cells via caspase-3 pathway. These compounds can be lead compounds for further discovery of neuroprotective agents for treating cerebral ischemic stroke.

Choledochocele is a congenital abnormality of the biliary system, which characterized by a cystic dilatation of intramural segment of the distal common bile duct. Choledochocele manifests as cystic lesions in the duodenal lumen and resembles duodenal duplication cysts in imaging. We reported a patient with choledochocele. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed a thin-walled sac in the duodenal cavity and a fine tubular structure connecting with the end of the common bile duct. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography is a noninvasive and convenient technique in the diagnosis of choledochocele.

The incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has gradually increased in recent years.HIV mainly destroys the body' s immune system,leading to decreased body resistance and thus the development of a variety of opportunistic infections and neoplastic diseases,especially in the digestive system.However,the clinical manifestations,laboratory findings,and physical examination results of these conditions are not specific.Imaging examinations can determine the presence of infection and tumor lesions and the disease scope;furthermore,they are useful tools for biopsy and follow-up evaluation.A better knowledge of the radiological findings of these diseases can enable radiologists to provide more information to patients and clinicians.This article summarize the imaging findings of common opportunistic infections and malignant tumors in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients.

PurposeTo evaluate the diagnostic performance of biphasic contrast‐enhanced CT (CECT), volume perfusion CT (VPCT) and 3 Tesla MRI with diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI), in patients with clinically suspected insulinomas.Materials and MethodsThis prospective study was approved by the institutional review board. Sixty‐four patients with clinically suspected insulinomas underwent biphasic CECT, VPCT, and 3T MR with DWI. Two radiologists independently determined the presence/absence of tumor using a 5‐scale confidence level. Conspicuity of the lesion and clarity of tumor‐to‐pancreatic duct distance were graded. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to compare diagnostic performance.ResultsForty‐seven patients were tumor positive, with 51 tumors. The differences between the areas under the curve values for tumor detection were as follows: 0.715 (CECT), 0.903 (VPCT), 0.832 (MRI without DWI) and 0.955 (MRI with DWI) for reader 1, and 0.738 (CECT), 0.895 (VPCT), 0.841 (MRI without DWI), and 0.956 (MRI with DWI) for reader 2. MRI with DWI and VPCT were significantly more accurate than CECT for insulinoma detection (P = 0.01 and 0.02 for reader 1, and P = 0.01 and 0.03 for reader 2). Lesion conspicuity was better on MRI compared with VPCT (P = 0.01), and both were better than CECT (both P < 0.01). Tumor‐to‐pancreatic duct distance was better appreciated on MRI, compared with CECT and VPCT (both P < 0.01). The weighted k values indicate good to excellent agreement between observers for determining tumor presence/absence (k = 0.64–0.84).ConclusionThe 3T MRI with DWI and VPCT are significantly more accurate than CECT for insulinoma detection. MRI demonstrates higher tumor conspicuity and is superior in depicting the tumor‐to‐duct distance.Level of Evidence: 1Technical Efficacy: Stage 3J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;46:1648–1655.

Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a hallmark event during liver fibrogenesis. We have previously shown that the transcriptional modulator MRTF-A contributes to liver fibrosis by programming epigenetic activation of HSCs. In the present study we investigated the mechanism whereby MRTF-A expression is regulated in this process. We report here that MRTF-A protein levels, but not mRNA levels, were up-regulated in vivo in the livers of mice induced to develop hepatic fibrosis. Pro-fibrogenic stimuli (TGF-β and PDGF-BB) also activated MRTF-A expression post-transcriptionally in vitro in cultured HSCs. miR-206 bound to the 3′-UTR of MRTF-A presumably to inhibit translation. miR-206 levels were down-regulated in response to pro-fibrogenic stimuli in vivo and in vitro allowing MRTF-A proteins to accumulate. Mechanistically, histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) was induced by pro-fibrogenic stimuli and recruited to the miR-206 promoter to repress miR-206 transcription. HDAC4 stimulated MRTF-A expression and drove fibrogenesis in HSCs in a miR-206 dependent manner. Therefore, our data reveal an HDAC4-miR-206-MRTF-A axis that can play a potentially important role in HSC activation and liver fibrosis.

Liver fibrosis is widely perceived as a host defense mechanism that aids tissue repair following liver injury. Excessive fibrogenesis, however, serves to disrupt normal liver structure and precedes such irrevocable human pathologies as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a hallmark event during liver fibrosis. In the present study we investigated the mechanism by which the lysine deacetylase SIRT1 regulates HSC activation. We report here that SIRT1 levels were decreased in the liver in different mouse models and in cultured HSCs undergoing activation. SIRT1 down-regulation paralleled HDAC4 up-regulation. HDAC4 was recruited to the SIRT1 promoter during HSC activation and removed acetylated histones H3 and H4 from the SIRT1 promoter leading to SIRT1 trans-repression. HDAC4 silencing restored SIRT1 expression and attenuated HSC activation in SIRT1-dependent manner. More important, selective deletion of SIRT1 in HSCs exacerbated CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice. Mechanistically, SIRT1 deacetylated PPARγ to block HSC activation. Together, our data reveal an HDAC4-SIRT1-PPARγ axis that contributes to the regulation of HSC activation and liver fibrosis.

To determine key MDCT features for characterizing pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PNET) from their mimics, which manifest as enhancing pancreatic mass with normal serum CA19-9 level.

Objective To evaluate the image quality and radiation exposure in multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) with automated topogram-based tube potential selection,compared to fixed tube potential,in patients with solid pancreatic lesions. Methods The preoperative pancreatic dual-source CT images of 113 patients who were confirmed as solid pancreatic lesions by postoperative pathology in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2014 to August 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.Among them,53 patients were examined on fixed tube potential at 120 kV,and tube current was automatically modulated (group 1). Sixty patients underwent topogram-based automatic tube potential selection (Tube voltage step:90,100 kV) and automated mA modulation (group 2). Two experienced radiologists measured the body sizes,assessed subjective and objective image quality of arterial phase and portal phase,and recorded radiation parameters including CT dose index volume (CTDIvol) and dose-length product (DLP). Results Of 60 patients in group 2,45 patients were scaned at 90 kV,15 patients were scaned at 100 kV.The average body diameter [(287±24) mm] in 90 kV group was significantly lower than that [(328±22) mm] in 100 kV group(t=0.731,P=0.0008). The mean CTDIvol [(3.9±1.0) mGy] in group 2 was significantly lower than in group 1 [(9.0±1.9) mGy],reduced by 56.7% (t=17.5,P=0.0003). The average DLP [(109±38) mGy·cm] in group 2 was significantly lower than that in group 1 [(276±83) mGy·cm],reduced by 60.5% (t=14.0,P=0.0007). In group 2,the standard deviations of images background noise in arterial and portal phase were (6.4±0.9) and (6.4±1.0)HU,respectively,which were significantly higher than those in group 1 [(5.6±1.4)HU,t=-3.757,P=0.0003;(5.5±1.4)HU,t=-3.828,P=0.0006]. In group 2,the signal to noise ratios of pancreatic lesions, abdominal aorta in arterial phase and pancreatic lesions, the portal vein in portal phase were 18.8±9.3,76.0±19.3 and 17.4±6.7,33.1±7.2,which were significantly higher than those in group 1 (13.1±8.7,t=-3.379,P=0.001;56.5±22.6,t=-2.268,P=0.025;14.1±8.1,t=-2.283,P=0.024;28.9±8.8,t=-2.613,P=0.009). Conclusion Compared with fixed tube voltage on the second-generation dual-source CT techniques,topogram-based automatic tube potential selection on third-generation dual-source CT can reduce radiation dose without decreasing image quality in imaging solid pancreatic lesions.

In order to obtain a low-damage recipe in the ICP processing, ICP-induced damage using Cl2/CH4 etch gases in extended wavelength In0.83Ga0.17As detector materials was studied in this paper. The effect of ICP etching on In0.83Ga0.17As samples was characterized qualitatively by the photoluminescence (PL) technology. The etch damage of In0.83Ga0.17As samples was characterized quantitatively by the Transmission Line Model (TLM), current voltage (IV) measurement, signal and noise testing and the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) technologies. The results showed that the Cl2/CH4 etching processing could lead better detector performance than that Cl2/N2, such as a larger square resistance, a lower dark current, a lower noise voltage and a higher peak detectivity. The lower PL signal intensity and lower dark current could be attributed to the hydrogen decomposed by the CH4 etch gases in the plasma etching process. These hydrogen particles generated non-radiative recombination centers in inner materials to weaken the PL intensity and passivated dangling bond at the surface to reduce the dark current. The larger square resistance resulted from the lower etch damage. The lower dark current meant that the detectors have less dangling bonds and leakage channels.

Primary bone lymphomas (PBLs) are composed of malignant lymphoid cells presenting in osseous sites, without supra-regional lymph node or extranodal involvement. We systematically characterized the immunophenotype and the myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MYD88)-L265P gene mutation status in PBL. Clinical data from 19 patients with PBL treated at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between 2009 and 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. Protein expression patterns were identified immunohistochemically, and MYD88 mutation was assessed using polymerase chain reaction and direct DNA sequencing. Fifteen patients presented with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Clinical factors favoring a good prognosis were an age < 60 years and rituximab treatment. B-cell lymphoma 2 expression was detected in 5/15 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients, and was associated with a poor prognosis in a univariate model. Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK/STAT3) signaling factors were upregulated in PBLs. All eighteen evaluable PBL samples harbored wild-type MYD88. These data thus suggest that age and rituximab treatment are independent prognostic factors determining overall survival, and that activation of JAK/STAT3 signaling may promote the pathogenesis of PBL. Moreover, the absence of MYD88-L265P mutation in PBL indicate there are distinct pathogenetic backgrounds among extranodal lymphomas.

Objective To characterize the CT perfusion parameters of focal pancreatic lesions including pancreatic cancers (PACs) and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs),estimate the confirmity and fungibility of parameters obtained from Deconvolution and Maximum slope+Patlak.Methods From December 2015 to November 2016,22 patients with PACs and 22 patients with pNETs(37 lesions confirmed by surgery and biopsy)underwent preoperative whole-pancreas CT perfusion in our center. The volume perfusion CT of the entire pancreas was performed at 80 kV and 100 mA,using 28 consecutive volume measurements and intravenous injection of 45 ml of iodinated contrast and saline at a flow rate of 5 ml/s. One experienced radiologists measured and recorded the CT perfusion parameters on Siemens post-processing workstation using two mathematical methods:Maximum slope+Patlak analysis versus Deconvolution method.ResultsWilcoxon matched-pairs test revealed significant difference between both pairs of the perfusion measurements by the two methods,PACs(BFM vs. BFD,Z=-3.263,P=0.001;BVD vs. BVP,Z=-3.978,P=0.000); pNETs(BFM vs. BFD,Z=-5.212,P=0.000;BVD vs. BVP,Z=-2.633,P=0.008). Spearman's correlation coefficient showed both pairs of perfusion measurements significantly correlated with each other in PACs (BFM vs. BFD,r=0.845,P=0.000;BVD vs. BVP,r=0.964,P=0.000) and pNETs(BFM vs. BFD,r=0.759,P=0.000),BVD vs. BVP,r=0.683,P=0.000). Geometric mean BFM/BFD ratio in PACs was 0.77 (range:0.61-0.99),while geometric mean BVD/BVP ratio was 1.42 (range:1.13-1.79),within 95% limits of agreement. Geometric mean BFM/BFD ratio in pNETs was 0.66 (range:0.51-0.86),while geometric mean BVD/BVP ratio was 1.15 (range:0.88-1.50),within 95% limits of agreement. Conclusion sSignificantly different CT perfusion values of blood flow and blood volume were obtained by Deconvolution-based and Maximum slope+Patlak-based algorithms in the pNETs and PACs. They correlated significantly with each other. Two perfusion-measuring algorithms are interchangeable because the ranges of the conversion factors are narrow.

Objective To evaluate the number of annual bleeding and annual joint bleeding and safety of third-generation full length recombinant human coagulation factor Ⅷ (ADVATE) in the standard prophylactic treatment of childhood patients with moderate-to-severe hemophilia A. Methods Fifteen children aged from 5 to 18 years with moderate-to-severe hemophilia A were enrolled in the one center, prospective, nonrandom, self-control study from Nov 01,2014 to Nov 30,2016. Children were treated with one-year long-course infusion of ADVATE with a dose of 20 ∼ 40 IU/kg twice-weekly or three times weekly. The numbers of annual bleeding and annual joint bleeding after the prophylaxis treatment were compared with that on-demand. Moreover, any adverse effect and serious adverse reaction related to ADVATE usage were documented during the study. The FⅧ inhibitor titer were measured with modified Nijmegen method before and after the prophylaxis every 3 to 6 months. Results The FⅧ:C for these 15 boys, median age 15, was less than 2.2%, with 8 patient severe type. The number of annual bleeding was reduced from 27.6 on-demand treatment to 2.6 after the prophylaxis treatment(P < 0.001), and the number of annual joint bleeding was also reduced from 11.1 to 0.9(P < 0.001). Seven patients had zero annual joint bleeding and the mean annual bleeding for mild, moderate and severe degree was decreased significantly with zero times for severe degree bleeding after the standard prophylactic treatment. No adverse effect or serious adverse reaction related to ADVATE was recorded during one-year period treatment and FⅧ inhibitor detection was negative. Conclusions Standard prophylactic treatment with ADVATE can effectively decrease the annual bleeding and annual joint bleeding in children with moderate-to-severe hemophilia A. This therapy is safe with FⅧ inhibitor test negative.